Market volatility has increased again at the start of the year due to intensified worries over Chinese growth weakness, geopolitical tensions and a further fall of the oil price. Although a lot of bad news is already priced in, we prefer to maintain a cautious positioning.

European bank stocks have collapsed so far this year whilst their credit default swaps have risen rapidly. Surely the credit and equity markets are telling us something? – Europe's nascent economic recovery is over? Negative rates are killing net interest margins? They don't have enough capital?…the list goes on. Whilst all the above cannot be ignored and investors need to select bank stocks carefully...

Investors should adapt to this new reality, just as they are being buffeted by a number of economic crosswinds: a strengthening US dollar with its disruptive impact on emerging economies, the knock-on effect on developed nations, deteriorating US fundamentals sparked by a turn in the credit cycle, but an improving economic outlook for Europe, helped by supportive monetary policy.

The World Economic Forum's (WEF) 11th annual Global Risk Report named “failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation” as the top global risk for 2016 and beyond, making a case for linking this to other high-ranking risks such as “large-scale involuntary migration” and “water crises”.

According to Shogo Maeda, Head of Japan Equities, despite the recent volatility, Japanese companies' prospects continue to look bright.